THE NATURALIST 
FOR 1899. 
OCCURRENCE OF RARE PLANTS IN 
CUMBERLAND. 
WILLIAM HODGSON; A.L.S., 
Workington, Cumberland. 
Valeriana pyrenaica L. Heart-leaved Valerian. During 
a week’s sojourn at Netherby, on the extreme north of this 
county, during the earlier days of July 1897, I made my first 
acquaintance with this exceptionally rare plant, usually classed 
as an alien, or occasionally naturalised in plantations. By the 
courteous permission of Sir Richard J. Graham, Bart., of 
Netherby Hall, I had gone to Longtown, and from thence to 
Netherby, with the view of acquainting myself more thoroughly 
with the botany of the neighbouring district, for the purpose of | 
a Flora of my native county, which I have long been preparing 
for publication, and which is now in the hands of the printers. © 
I was recommended to visit the famous Solway Moss, and on > 
my way thither to explore a wood adjoining the highway 
between Longtown and the Moss, where I was informed that 
I should find a coarse-looking plant which had greatly puzzled 
the natives to identify. On reaching the wood I found imme- 
diately within the gate large patches of the plant, which, with 
a few exceptions, had’ done flowering for the season. Farther 
in the wood were to be seen more and more of the plants, 
numbering well over a hundred specimens in all. Many o 
these exceeded three feet in height, and they seemed so vigorous 
and healthy that I concluded the locality was congenial to 
their growth and development. On reaching home with such 
specimens as I had secured I had no difficulty in their classifica- 
tion. The flowers bore a strong resemblance to those of 
V. officinalis, and the large broadly heart-shaped, almost circular 
root-leaves tended further to the identification of the species. 
The wood bears, I believe, the name of Silver Hill Plantation, 
and it stands upon a part of what was formerly known as the 
Debatable Ground, claimed alike by England and Scotland. 
: ; : : A 
